US5451055A - Tower puzzle toy - Google Patents
Tower puzzle toy Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US5451055A US5451055A US08/292,650 US29265094A US5451055A US 5451055 A US5451055 A US 5451055A US 29265094 A US29265094 A US 29265094A US 5451055 A US5451055 A US 5451055A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- ball
- central shaft
- rotary
- decks
- cap
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
- A63F9/06—Patience; Other games for self-amusement
- A63F9/08—Puzzles provided with elements movable in relation, i.e. movably connected, to each other
- A63F9/0826—Three-dimensional puzzles with slidable or rotatable elements or groups of elements, the main configuration remaining unchanged, e.g. Rubik's cube
- A63F9/083—Three-dimensional puzzles with slidable or rotatable elements or groups of elements, the main configuration remaining unchanged, e.g. Rubik's cube with vacant positions or gap migration
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F7/00—Indoor games using small moving playing bodies, e.g. balls, discs or blocks
- A63F7/04—Indoor games using small moving playing bodies, e.g. balls, discs or blocks using balls to be shaken or rolled in small boxes, e.g. comprising labyrinths
- A63F7/042—Three-dimensional labyrinths
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F7/00—Indoor games using small moving playing bodies, e.g. balls, discs or blocks
- A63F7/22—Accessories; Details
- A63F7/36—Constructional details not covered by groups A63F7/24 - A63F7/34, i.e. constructional details of rolling boards, rims or play tables, e.g. frame, game boards, guide tracks
- A63F7/40—Balls or other moving playing bodies, e.g. pinballs or discs used instead of balls
- A63F2007/4031—Balls or other moving playing bodies, e.g. pinballs or discs used instead of balls with balls of different colours or other visual characteristics
- A63F2007/4043—Balls or other moving playing bodies, e.g. pinballs or discs used instead of balls with balls of different colours or other visual characteristics with balls of three or more different colours
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
- A63F9/06—Patience; Other games for self-amusement
- A63F9/08—Puzzles provided with elements movable in relation, i.e. movably connected, to each other
- A63F9/0803—Two-dimensional puzzles with slideable or rotatable elements or groups of elements, the main configuration remaining unchanged
- A63F9/0811—Two-dimensional puzzles with slideable or rotatable elements or groups of elements, the main configuration remaining unchanged with rotatable concentric rings or discs
- A63F2009/0815—Two-dimensional puzzles with slideable or rotatable elements or groups of elements, the main configuration remaining unchanged with rotatable concentric rings or discs with rotary, stacked elements, e.g. elements with a puzzle image on a curved or cylindrical outer surface
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F7/00—Indoor games using small moving playing bodies, e.g. balls, discs or blocks
- A63F7/22—Accessories; Details
- A63F7/24—Devices controlled by the player to project or roll-off the playing bodies
- A63F7/28—Devices controlled by the player to project or roll-off the playing bodies using gravity, i.e. apparatus for rolling off the ball, e.g. a slope, ramp or slant
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a tower puzzle toy which can be used for playing the game of three-dimensional picture puzzle as well as the game of gobang.
- FIG. 1 shows a tower puzzle toy comprised of a plurality of rotary decks 10 and a plurality of balls 11 of different colors moved between holes on the rotary decks. The balls 11 can be shifted one another by turning the rotary decks 10 relative to one another.
- This structure of tower puzzle toy is suitable for one player only. Furthermore, this structure of tower puzzle toy is less intricate, and the player cannot set by oneself a network of complicated, three-dimensional winding paths as desired.
- the present invention has been accomplished to provide a tower puzzle toy which is suitable for one player as well as two players and, which allows the player to set up a network of complicated, three-dimensional winding paths for passing a ball as desired.
- the tower puzzle toy comprises a central shaft, a top cap and a bottom cap respectively fastened to the central shaft at two opposite ends, a plurality of rotary decks revolvably mounted around the central shaft and defining a plurality of radial ball chambers, a top packing ring and a bottom packing ring respectively mounted around the central shaft and retained between the central shaft and either cap, and at least one ball for insertion through a ball inlet on either cap through a through hole on either packing ring into either ball chamber, wherein the at least one ball is moved from one ball chamber to another and from one rotary deck to another by turning the rotary decks around the central shaft relative to one another and/or turning the tower puzzle toy upside down.
- different insertion plates are provided for insertion into either ball chamber to change the moving route of the at least one ball so that the player can change the network of complicated, three-dimensional winding paths for passing the at least one ball.
- FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a tower puzzle toy according to the prior art
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tower puzzle toy according to the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the tower puzzle toy shown in FIG. 2;
- FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view in section of the tower puzzle toy shown in FIG. 2;
- FIG. 5 is a top view in section of the tower puzzle toy shown in FIG. 2;
- FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an alternate form of the tower puzzle toy of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a longitudinal view in section of the alternate form of FIG. 6.
- FIG. 8 is a top view in section of the alternate form of FIG. 6.
- a tower puzzle toy in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of a top cap 10, a bottom cap 20, a top packing ring 11, a bottom packing ring 21, a plurality of rotary decks 30, a central shaft 40, and a plurality of balls 50.
- the top and bottom caps 10 and 20 are identical and symmetrically disposed at two opposite ends.
- the top and bottom packing rings 11 and 21 are identical and respectively attached to the caps 10 and 20 at an inner side.
- the top and bottom caps 10 and 20 are molded from transparent plastics.
- the cap 10 or 20 comprises two curved, downward plates 12 and 13 symmetrically disposed on the inside, a vertical inlet 16 near the border, a downward extension tube 17 extended from the vertical inlet 16.
- the packing ring 11 or 21 has a through hole 18 aligned with the bore of the downward extension tube 17 and the vertical inlet 16.
- the downward plate 12 or 13 has a bevel bottom edge 14 and a locating flange 15 horizontally spaced above the bevel bottom edge 14.
- the rotary decks 30 are preferably molded from transparent plastics, each comprising an outer race 31, an inner race 32, and a plurality of partition boards 33 radially spaced between the outer race 31 and the inner race 32 and defining a plurality of ball chambers 34.
- the inner race 32 has a plurality of vertical grooves 35 corresponding to the partition boards 33.
- the ball chambers 34 are of open chambers having each the top and bottom sides opened. The distance between the outer race 31 and the inner race 32 is approximately equal to the radial width of the packing rings 11 and 21.
- the central shaft 40 is a hollow shaft (which may be formed by fastening two symmetrical half-round shells together, comprising a longitudinal rib 41 on the outside.
- a longitudinal rib 41 on the outside.
- the central shaft 40 has two annular grooves 43 and 44 spaced around the longitudinal center through hole 42 thereof near two opposite ends.
- the top and bottom caps 10 and 20 are respectively fastened to the two opposite ends of the central shaft 40 by fitting the downward plates 12 and 13 into longitudinal center through hole 42 permitting the locating flanges 15 of the downward plates 12 and 13 of the top and bottom caps 10 and 20 to engage the inside annular grooves 43 and 44 respectively.
- the downward plates 12 and 13 have a respective bevel bottom edge 14, they can be conveniently inserted into the longitudinal center through hole 42 of the central shaft 40.
- the balls 50 are respectively received in each ball chamber 34 of each rotary deck 30 with only one ball chamber 34 left vacant.
- the balls 50 may be made in different colors or marked with different patterns. By turning the rotary decks 30 relative to one another, the balls 50 can be shifted from one ball chamber 34 to another to change the combination of the colors or patterns of the balls 50.
- the tower puzzle toy may be played with two players alternating and attempting to be first to place four or five balls 50 in a row. Because the balls 50 can be inserted into the tower puzzle toy from either end, the tower puzzle toy can be turned upside down during the playing. Therefore, the players must think about all three dimensional positions through 360° angle. Furthermore, when all the balls 50 have been put in the tower puzzle toy, the vertical inlet 16 on each cap 10 and 20 may be sealed by a detachable cover (not shown).
- FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 illustrate an alternate form of the present invention.
- This alternate form is also comprised of a central shaft 400, a top cap 100, a bottom cap 200, a top packing ring 110, a bottom packing ring 210, and a plurality of rotary decks 300.
- the central shaft 400, top cap 100, bottom cap 200, top packing ring 110 and bottom packing ring 210 are similar to like parts in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 through 5.
- the rotary deck 300 comprises a closed bottom 301, a plurality of ball chambers 340 radially disposed around a circle and separated from one another by a plurality of radial partition boards 330, a plurality of circular through holes 302 respectively disposed in each ball chamber 340 through the closed bottom 301, wherein each radial partition board 330 defines a U-shaped passage 303.
- different insertion plates 91, 92, 93, 94, etc. may be used to block the ball chambers 340 in different directions.
- the first insertion plate 91 blocks up the bottom and two lateral sides of the respective ball chamber 340 with the top side open for letting a ball in.
- the second insertion plate 92 blocks up the top and bottom sides as well as the left side of the respective ball chamber 340 with the right side open for letting a ball in.
- the third insertion plate 93 blocks up the top and bottom sides as well as the right side of the respective ball chamber 340 with the left side open for letting a ball in.
- the fourth insertion plate 94 is a flat plate having two opposite sliding grooves 95 and 96 for mounting on either radial partition board 330 to block up the respective U-shaped passage 303.
- the fourth insertion plate 94 may be made of circular shape for blocking up the circular through hole 302 on either ball chamber 340.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Toys (AREA)
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/292,650 US5451055A (en) | 1994-08-18 | 1994-08-18 | Tower puzzle toy |
DE4429443A DE4429443C2 (de) | 1994-08-18 | 1994-08-19 | Turm-Puzzlespiel |
GB9417273A GB2292692A (en) | 1994-08-18 | 1994-08-26 | Ball transfer puzzle toys |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/292,650 US5451055A (en) | 1994-08-18 | 1994-08-18 | Tower puzzle toy |
DE4429443A DE4429443C2 (de) | 1994-08-18 | 1994-08-19 | Turm-Puzzlespiel |
GB9417273A GB2292692A (en) | 1994-08-18 | 1994-08-26 | Ball transfer puzzle toys |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US5451055A true US5451055A (en) | 1995-09-19 |
Family
ID=27206683
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US08/292,650 Expired - Fee Related US5451055A (en) | 1994-08-18 | 1994-08-18 | Tower puzzle toy |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5451055A (de) |
DE (1) | DE4429443C2 (de) |
GB (1) | GB2292692A (de) |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2789326A1 (fr) * | 1999-02-04 | 2000-08-11 | Mohamed Fofana | Cylindre transparent a elements rotatifs |
US6186860B1 (en) * | 1999-12-02 | 2001-02-13 | Chu-Yuan Liao | Knockdown block toy |
US20080026672A1 (en) * | 2006-05-04 | 2008-01-31 | Mark Hardin | Electronic toy with alterable features |
US20080164655A1 (en) * | 2007-01-09 | 2008-07-10 | Ju-Hsun Yang | Ba-gua fortune telling game tower |
US20080300033A1 (en) * | 2007-05-29 | 2008-12-04 | Nintendo Co., Ltd., | Storage medium storing puzzle game program, puzzle game apparatus, and puzzle game controlling method |
US20090278309A1 (en) * | 2008-05-09 | 2009-11-12 | Bart Miller | Three-dimensional game and method of playing the same |
US20120286472A1 (en) * | 2011-05-12 | 2012-11-15 | John Kirk Harvey | Pathway puzzle |
US20130284112A1 (en) * | 2012-04-25 | 2013-10-31 | Andrey Yuriy Grigoryev | Toy for a Cat or Other Small Animal with Multiple Levels of Play Difficulty |
US20140306404A1 (en) * | 2013-04-12 | 2014-10-16 | Ytres Assembly, S.L. | Cylindrical labyrinth |
US20150246262A1 (en) * | 2014-03-01 | 2015-09-03 | Yen-Po Chiu | Multi-functional intelligent ball disk |
US20190262696A1 (en) * | 2017-03-08 | 2019-08-29 | Wowwee Group Ltd. | Rotating ball-in-a-maze puzzle game |
USD949977S1 (en) * | 2020-11-12 | 2022-04-26 | Tiaohang Lan | Magic bean toy |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE19702916C1 (de) * | 1997-01-28 | 1998-01-15 | Michael Wieczorek | Turmartiges Geschicklichkeitsspiel mit Etagenböden |
GB2351921B (en) * | 1999-07-15 | 2004-04-21 | Susan Ayton | A rotational plate system for games |
DE102004059902B4 (de) * | 2004-12-13 | 2007-10-11 | Alexander Senf | Spiel- und Testgerät |
DE102011051994A1 (de) * | 2011-07-20 | 2013-01-24 | Wilhelm Fischer Spezialmaschinenfabrik Gmbh | Vorrichtung zum gezielten Leiten bzw. Bewegen von Kugeln, sowie Verfahren zum Leiten bzw. Bewegen einer oder mehrerer Kugeln mit dieser Vorrichtung |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3747937A (en) * | 1972-03-20 | 1973-07-24 | Quaker Oats Co | Obstacle toy |
US4008895A (en) * | 1975-09-15 | 1977-02-22 | Lawrence L. Reiner | Maze game |
US4376537A (en) * | 1980-10-23 | 1983-03-15 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Rotary puzzle device |
US4413823A (en) * | 1980-11-03 | 1983-11-08 | Marvin Glass & Associates | Ball puzzle |
US4509753A (en) * | 1983-05-23 | 1985-04-09 | Vaughan Jr Philip M | Hidden passage ball puzzle |
US4754972A (en) * | 1986-10-06 | 1988-07-05 | Boris Boskovic | Multi-level rotary maze |
US4822049A (en) * | 1987-05-25 | 1989-04-18 | Tuvia Biber | Puzzle-type amusement device |
US5123650A (en) * | 1990-08-17 | 1992-06-23 | Slauter Gordon H | Multi-panel maze puzzle |
US5292126A (en) * | 1992-12-16 | 1994-03-08 | James Hanley | Game employing rotating disks |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2029242B (en) * | 1978-08-17 | 1982-10-27 | Pyke B | Ball puzzle game |
DE3104021A1 (de) * | 1981-02-05 | 1982-12-02 | Arxon Spiel + Freizeit GmbH, 6054 Rodgau | Spielgeraet |
GB2211099B (en) * | 1987-10-16 | 1991-05-22 | Stephen John Few | Game: variable maze |
GB9007033D0 (en) * | 1990-03-29 | 1990-05-30 | Higgins David V | Game puzzle |
WO1994000207A1 (en) * | 1992-06-30 | 1994-01-06 | Times Three Pty. Ltd. | Rotary puzzle |
-
1994
- 1994-08-18 US US08/292,650 patent/US5451055A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-08-19 DE DE4429443A patent/DE4429443C2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-08-26 GB GB9417273A patent/GB2292692A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3747937A (en) * | 1972-03-20 | 1973-07-24 | Quaker Oats Co | Obstacle toy |
US4008895A (en) * | 1975-09-15 | 1977-02-22 | Lawrence L. Reiner | Maze game |
US4376537A (en) * | 1980-10-23 | 1983-03-15 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Rotary puzzle device |
US4413823A (en) * | 1980-11-03 | 1983-11-08 | Marvin Glass & Associates | Ball puzzle |
US4509753A (en) * | 1983-05-23 | 1985-04-09 | Vaughan Jr Philip M | Hidden passage ball puzzle |
US4754972A (en) * | 1986-10-06 | 1988-07-05 | Boris Boskovic | Multi-level rotary maze |
US4822049A (en) * | 1987-05-25 | 1989-04-18 | Tuvia Biber | Puzzle-type amusement device |
US5123650A (en) * | 1990-08-17 | 1992-06-23 | Slauter Gordon H | Multi-panel maze puzzle |
US5292126A (en) * | 1992-12-16 | 1994-03-08 | James Hanley | Game employing rotating disks |
Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2789326A1 (fr) * | 1999-02-04 | 2000-08-11 | Mohamed Fofana | Cylindre transparent a elements rotatifs |
US6186860B1 (en) * | 1999-12-02 | 2001-02-13 | Chu-Yuan Liao | Knockdown block toy |
US20080026672A1 (en) * | 2006-05-04 | 2008-01-31 | Mark Hardin | Electronic toy with alterable features |
US7607962B2 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2009-10-27 | Mattel, Inc. | Electronic toy with alterable features |
US20080164655A1 (en) * | 2007-01-09 | 2008-07-10 | Ju-Hsun Yang | Ba-gua fortune telling game tower |
US7510188B2 (en) * | 2007-01-09 | 2009-03-31 | Ju-Hsun Yang | Ba-Gua fortune telling game tower |
US20080300033A1 (en) * | 2007-05-29 | 2008-12-04 | Nintendo Co., Ltd., | Storage medium storing puzzle game program, puzzle game apparatus, and puzzle game controlling method |
US20090278309A1 (en) * | 2008-05-09 | 2009-11-12 | Bart Miller | Three-dimensional game and method of playing the same |
US20120286472A1 (en) * | 2011-05-12 | 2012-11-15 | John Kirk Harvey | Pathway puzzle |
US20130284112A1 (en) * | 2012-04-25 | 2013-10-31 | Andrey Yuriy Grigoryev | Toy for a Cat or Other Small Animal with Multiple Levels of Play Difficulty |
US20140306404A1 (en) * | 2013-04-12 | 2014-10-16 | Ytres Assembly, S.L. | Cylindrical labyrinth |
US9067129B2 (en) * | 2013-04-12 | 2015-06-30 | Ytres Assembly, S.L. | Cylindrical labyrinth |
BE1022467B1 (fr) * | 2013-04-12 | 2016-04-11 | Ytres Assembly S.L. | Labyrinthe cylindrique |
US20150246262A1 (en) * | 2014-03-01 | 2015-09-03 | Yen-Po Chiu | Multi-functional intelligent ball disk |
US20190262696A1 (en) * | 2017-03-08 | 2019-08-29 | Wowwee Group Ltd. | Rotating ball-in-a-maze puzzle game |
US10589167B2 (en) | 2017-03-08 | 2020-03-17 | Wowwee Group Ltd. | Rotating ball-in-a-maze puzzle game |
US10688380B2 (en) * | 2017-03-08 | 2020-06-23 | Wowee Group Ltd. | Rotating ball-in-a-maze puzzle game |
USD949977S1 (en) * | 2020-11-12 | 2022-04-26 | Tiaohang Lan | Magic bean toy |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE4429443C2 (de) | 1998-10-08 |
GB2292692A (en) | 1996-03-06 |
GB9417273D0 (en) | 1994-10-19 |
DE4429443A1 (de) | 1996-02-22 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20030919 |